Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-08-04

me when L say that you are speaking
of things as already accomplished that
fear are years away. If hard work
! and determination to succeed can count
for any thing, 1 shall marry Helen
| Willis some day; but you will remem-
Der that told you was penniless.'
The Captain softly chuckled as he
patted Crawford's shoulder.
''Ah, my boy; the girl ism tpenniless.
When 1 die she and her mother will
| divide fifty thousand dollars"
In his surprise the young man me-
chemically echoed the words.
Eyes, sir; and if this ship comes into
port again the value of ship and cargo
will add twenty thousand more to it.
| There's no insurance on either; if
they're lost it will be dead loss; but
that good pile of gold and silver is put
away safely, beyond all fear of acct
| dent"
The old man chuckled again.
"Now, Henry Crawford, I've very
strange story to tell you. Yesterday
you laid your whole life open to me;
I'm going to be just as candid with you.
What would you say, to be told that
neither the girl nor her mother knows
of the existence of that money, nor
where it is? That's just what 1 tell
you. It's my secret, and I've carried
it for years; foolishly, perhaps-you
shall Judge of that when you have
heard the story. For Helen's sake, for
yours and her mothers, you must
have this secret, so that the money
may be saved to you three"
The Captain pulled his whiskers
thoughtfully.
81 said l would be candid; I will.
Of course, this has been foolish of me;
my sudden death at any time would
have deprived my wife and daughter of
what have always meant they should
have. But you shall hear the whole
story, and see what it was that has
moved me to act as I have"
Crawford listened intently to the
narrative that followed. Both men
stood with their backs against the long
boat; in the boat was Louis Hunter
concealed by tarpaulin, his eager ears
drinking in every word.
PART u.-CHAPTER Ill
THE CAPTAIH's STORY.
spoke of the sum of fifty thousand
dollars (began Captain Willis), that
had secreted
Why did / hide it? why conceal any
knowledge of it from my wife and
child? for, certainly love them as much
as most men love their families.
To answer these questions, it will be
necessary to go back to the beginning,
and make you acquainted with my
whole life.
The amount that 1 have named is
considered, / believe, quite fortune.
Three times before, I have been in pos
session of almost as much; three times
/ have lost all by the misconduct of
others whom 1 trusted. My reasons
for hiding this money, and locking the
secret in my breast, have much to do
with my previous losses. You shall
hear.
You have lived in Boston, and you
know where Provincetown is, across
the bay, on the point of Cape Cod. !
was born in that old town something
less than sixty years ago. My parents
were as poor as poverty could make
them, and died when / was thirteen
years old. / never went to school a
day in my life; what knowledge have
got, afloat and ashore. has all been
picked up. l ran about the wharves,
waited on the sailors, heard their Won
derful tales, and when was sixteen
made my first voyage before the mast.
Now look on, eight years from that
time. With all kinds of hard knocks,
and such privations and perils as sailors
only know, I had steadily risen until
1 was first mate of fine ship in the
India trade. Ihad none of the sailors
ordinary vices. was steady, temper.
ate and Industrious. To say that was
bound to rise is only to state the fact.
had accumulated large sum OF
money. A friend on Long wharf OF
whom l had high opinion happened
to learn it, and he asked me one day to
deposit it with him.
81 can use Il to advantage" he said,
''and pay you interest on it. You can
have it whenever you want it. -
TO BE CONTINUED.
-Cho-ssRe carefu1 wa ara nh.